When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.“Moreover when you fast, don’t be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen of men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward.
4 sermons cite this verse
… I wanna read the context of what he's writing together in Matthew 6, verses one through 18. We'll start with verse one here. Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward with your father in heaven. So, whenever you give to the poor, don't sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets to be applauded by people. But truly, I tell you, they have their reward. But when you give to the poor, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your giving may be in secret and your father who sees in secret will reward you. Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites because they love to pray standing in synagogues on the street corner to be seen by people. But truly I tell you, they've received their reward. But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, that's our word, and pray to your father who's in secret and your father who sees in secret will reward you. …
… Then he goes on and he gives them the Lord's prayer, which most of us are familiar with. He talks about forgiveness, but skipping ahead to verse 16. When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly, I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face so that will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your father who is unseen. And your father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. Thanks be to God for the power of his word. I love this text, but it's a challenging, it's a convicting text. He's telling us, let's go back to verse one. It says, be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. Before we talk about ourselves, let's talk about back then because what they were doing is they were, yes, they were giving. …
… That is, the applause that every actor wants. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. Verse 5, and when thou prayest, thou shall not be as the hypocrites are, the actors are. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men there in a theater. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. On down to verse 16. Moreover, when ye fast, ye shall not be as the hypocrites, that is, the play actors of a sad countenance. They're wearing the sad mask today. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear unto men to fast. That is, it's, it's a play. for I say unto you, they have their reward. I read an article about Art Linkletter. Many of us know Art Linkletter. It's been in the entertainment realm for many, many years. Art Linkletter said that he was a professing Christian and to one day had a great crisis in his life and he really needed help and he was meeting with some young people who were turned on, on fire Christians. …
… are, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets that they may be seen to men. Verily I SAYING TO YOU, THEY HAVE THEIR REWARD. JESUS IS SAYING, DON'T PRAY TO BE SEEN OF MEN. BUT THEN HE SAYS IN VERSE 16 OF THE SAME CHAPTER, MORE OVER, NOW HE LINKS PRAYER AND FASTING, MORE OVER WHEN YOU FAST, BE NOT AS THE HYPOCRITES OF A SAD COUNTENANCE, FOR THEY DISFIGURE THEIR FACES, THAT THEY MAY APPEAR UNTO MEN TO FAST. VERILY I SAY TO YOU, THEY HAVE THEIR REWARD. OUR LORD GOD DIDN'T SAY IF YOU FAST. HE SAYS WHEN YOU FAST. LEONARD RAVENHILL SAID THAT THE CHURCH HAS GONE FROM ITS UPPER ROOM WITH ITS FIRE TO ITS SUPPER ROOM WITH ITS SMOKE. NOW I'M NOT AGAINST FELLOWSHIPS. MATTER OF FACT, IF YOU STUDY THE HISTORY OF THE BIBLE, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND OUT THAT GOD HAD HIS GREAT FEAST DAYS. WHEN WE MEET TOGETHER AT, UH, THE THRONE OF GOD, WE'RE GOING TO COME TO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB. AND OUR LORD IS CONSTANTLY SAYING TO HIS CHILDREN, COME AND DINE, COME AND DINE. BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU, THERE'S ALSO FASTING THAT IS MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE. NOW, YOUR PASTOR IS CALLING YOU TO FAST AND TO PRAY. TO FAST AND PRAY FOR AMERICA, AND TO FAST AND PRAY FOR THIS CHURCH. WE ARE TO PRAY. NOW WHAT IS FASTING. FASTING IS NOT MERELY GOING WITHOUT FOOD. FASTING IS GOING WITHOUT FOOD AND WATER SOMETIMES FOR A SPIRITUAL …